hard cash-第74章

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For　then　rolled　over　that　young　head　hours　of　mortal　anguish　that　no　tongue　of　man　can　utter；　nor　pen　can　shadow。　Chained　sane　amongst　the　mad；　on　his　wedding…day；　expecting　with　tied　hands　the　sinister　acts　of　the　soul…murderers　who　had　the　power　to　make　their　lie　a　truth！　We　can　paint　the　body　writhing　vainly　against　its　unjust　bonds；　but　who　can　paint　the　loathing；　agonised　soul　in　a　mental　situation　so　ghastly？　For　my　part　I　feel　it　in　my　heart　of　hearts；　but　am　impotent　to　convey　it　to　others；　impotent；　impotent。

Pray　think　of　it　for　yourselves；　men　and　women；　if　you　have　not　_sworn_　never　to　think　over　a　novel。　Think　of　it　for　your　own　sakes：　Alfred's　turn　to…day；　it　may　be　yours　to…morrow。



CHAPTER　XXXII

AT　two　o'clock　an　attendant　stole　on　tiptoe　to　the　strong…room；　unlocked　the　door；　and　peeped　cautiously　in。　Seeing　the　dangerous　maniac　quiet；　he　entered　with　a　plate　of　lukewarm　beef　and　potatoes；　and　told　him　bluntly　to　eat。　The　crushed　one　said　he　could　not　eat。　〃You　must；〃　said　the　man。　〃Eat！〃　said　Alfred；　〃of　what　do　you　think　I　am　made！　Pray　put　it　down　and　listen　to　me。　I'll　give　you　a　hundred　pounds　to　let　me　out　of　this　place；　two　hundred；　three。〃

A　coarse　laugh　greeted　this　proposal。　〃You　might　as　well　have　made　it　a　thousand　when　you　was　about　it。〃

〃So　I　will；〃　said　Alfred　eagerly；　〃and　thank　you　on　my　knees　besides。　Ah；　I　see　you　don't　believe　I　have　money。　I　give　you　my　honour　I　have　ten　thousand　pounds：　it　was　settled　on　me　by　my　grandfather；　and　I　came　of　age　last　week。〃

〃Oh；　that's　like　enough；〃　said　the　man　carelessly。　〃Well；　you　_are_　green。　Do　you　think　them　as　sent　you　here　will　let　you　spend　your　money？　No；　your　money　is　theirs　now。〃

And　he　sat　down　with　the　plate　on　his　knee　and　began　to　cut　the　meat　in　small　pieces；　while　his　careless　words　entered　Alfred's　heart；　and　gave　him　such　a　glimpse　of　sinister　motives　and　dark　acts　to　come　as　set　him　shuddering。

〃Come　none　o'　that；〃　said　the　man；　suspecting　this　shudder。　He　thought　it　was　the　prologue　to　some　desperate　act；　for　all　a　chained　madman　does　is　read　upon　this　plan：　his　terror　passes　for　rage；　his　very　sobs　for　snarls。

〃Oh；　be　honest　with　me；〃　said　Alfred　imploringly；　〃do　you　think　it　is　to　steal　my　money　the　wretch　has　stolen　my　liberty？〃

〃What　wretch？〃

〃My　father。〃

〃I　know　nothing　about　it；〃　said　the　man　sullenly；　〃in　course　there's　mostly　money　behind；　when　young　gents　like　you　come　to　be　took　care　of。　But　you　musn't　go　thinking　of　that；　or　you'll　excite　yourself　again。　Come　you　eat　your　vittles　like　a　Christian；　and　no　more　about　it。〃

〃Leave　it；　that　is　a　good　fellow；　and　then　I'll　try　and　eat　a　little　by…and…bye。　But　my　grief　is　greatoh　Julia！　Julia！　what　shall　I　do？　And　I　am　not　used　to　eat　at　this　time。　Will　you；　my　good　fellow？〃

〃Well；　I　will；　now　you　behave　like　a　gentleman；〃　said　the　man。

Then　Alfred　coaxed　him　to　take　off　the　handcuffs。　He　refused；　but　ended　by　doing　it；　and　so　left　him。

Four　more　leaden　hours　rolled　by；　and　then　this　same　attendant　（his　name　was　Brown）　brought　him　a　cup　of　tea。　It　was　welcome　to　his　parched　throat；　he　drank　it；　and　ate　a　mouthful　of　the　meat　to　please　the　man；　and　even　asked　for　some　more　tea。

At　eight　four　keepers　came　into　his　room；　undressed　him；　compelled　him　to　make　his　toilette；　&c。；　before　them；　which　put　him　to　shamebeing　a　gentlemanalmost　as　much　as　it　would　a　woman。　They　then　hobbled　him；　and　fastened　his　ankles　to　the　bed；　and　put　his　hands　into　muffles；　but　did　not　confine　his　body；　because　they　had　lost　a　lucrative　lodger　only　a　month　ago；　throttled　at　night　in　a　strait…waistcoat。

Alfred　lay　in　this　plight；　and　compared　with　anguish　unspeakable　his　joyful　anticipations　of　this　night　with　the　strange　and　cruel　reality。　〃My　wedding　night！　my　wedding　night！〃　he　cried　aloud；　and　burst　into　a　passion　of　grief。

By…and…bye　he　consoled　himself　a　little　with　the　hope　that　he　could　not　long　be　incarcerated　as　a　madman；　being　sane；　and　his　good　wit　told　him　his　only　chance　was　calmness。　He　would　go　to　sleep　and　recover　composure　to　bear　his　wrongs　with　dignity；　and　quietly　baffle　his　enemies。

Just　as　he　was　dropping　off'　he　felt　something　crawl　over　his　face。　Instinctively　he　made　a　violent　motion　to　put　his　hands　up。　Both　hands　were　confined；　he　could　not　move　them。　He　bounded；　he　flung；　he　writhed。　His　little　persecutors　were　quiet　a　moment；　but　the　next　they　began　again。　In　vain　he　rolled　and　writhed；　and　shuddered　with　loathing　inexpressible。　They　crawled；　they　smelt；　they　bit。

Many　a　poor　soul　these　little　wretches　had　distracted　with　the　very　sleeplessness　the　madhouse　professed　to　cure；　not　create；　in　conjunction　with　the　opiates；　the　confinement　and　the　gloom　of　Silverton　House；　they　had　driven　many　a　feeble　mind　across　the　line　that　divides　the　weak　and　nervous　from　the　unsound。

When　he　found　there　was　no　help；　Alfred　clenched　his　teeth　and　bore　it：〃Bite　on；　ye　little　wretches；〃　he　said　〃bite　on；　and　divert　my　mind　from　deeper　stings　than　yoursif　you　can。〃

And　they　did；　a　little。

Thus　passed　the　night　in　mental　agony；　and　bodily　irritation　and　disgust。　At　daybreak　the　feasters　on　his　flesh　retired；　and　utterly　worn　out　and　exhausted；　he　sank　into　a　deep　sleep。

At　half…past　seven　the　head　keeper　and　three　more　came　in；　and　made　him　dress　before　them。　They　handcuffed　him；　and　took　him　down　to　breakfast　in　the　noisy　ward；　set　him　down　on　a　little　bench　by　the　wall　like　a　naughty　boy；　and　ordered　a　dangerous　maniac　to　feed　him。

The　dangerous　maniac　obeyed；　and　went　and　sat　beside　Alfred　with　a　basin　of　thick　gruel　and　a　great　wooden　spoon。　He　shovelled　the　gruel　down　his　charge's　throat　mighty　superciliously　from　the　very　first；　and　presently；　falling　into　some　favourite　and　absorbing　train　of　thought；　he　fixed　his　eye　on　vacancy；　and　handed　the　spoonfuls　over　his　left　shoulder　with　such　rapidity　and　recklessness　that　it　was　more　like　sowing　than　feeding。　Alfred　cried　out　〃Quarter！　I　can't　eat　so　fast　as　that；　old　fellow。〃

Something　in　his　tone　struck　the　maniac；　he　looked　at　Alfred　full；　Alfred　looked　at　him　in　return；　and　smiled　kindly　but　sadly。

〃Hallo！〃　cried　the　maniac。

〃What's　up　now？〃　said　a　keeper　fiercely。

〃Why　this　man　is　sane。　As　sane　as　I　am。〃

At　this　there　was　a　horse　laugh。

〃Saner；〃　persisted　the　maniac；　〃for　I　am　a　little　queer　at　times；　you　know。〃

〃And　no　mistake；　Jemmy。　Now　what　makes　you　think　he　is　sane？〃

〃Looked　me　full　in　the　face；　and　smiled　at　me。〃

〃Oh；　that　is　your　test；　is　it？〃

〃Yes；　it　is。　You　try　it　on　any　of　those　mad　beggars　there　and　see　if　they　can　stand　it。〃

〃Who　invented　gunpowder？〃　said　one　of　the　insulted　persons；　looking　as　sly　and　malicious　as　a　magpie　going　to　steal。

Jemmy　exploded　directly：　〃I　did；　ye　rascal；　ye　liar；　ye　rogue；　ye　Baconian！〃　and　going　higher；　and　higher　in　this　strain；　was　very　soon　handcuffed　with　Alfred's　handcuffs；　and　seated　on　Alfred's　bench　and　tied　to　two　rings　in　the　wall。　On　this　his　martial　ardour　went　down　to　zero：　〃Here　is　treatment；　sir；〃　said　he　piteously　to　Alfred。　〃I　see　you　are　a　gentleman；　now　look　at　this。　All　spite　and　jealousy　because　I　invented　that　invaluable　substance；　which　has　done　so　much　to　prolong　human　life　and　alleviate　human　misery。〃

Alfred　was　now　ordered　to　feed　Jemmy；　which　he　did：　so　quickly　were　their　parts　inverted。

Directly　after　breakfast　Alfred　demanded　to　see　the　proprietor　of　the　asylum。

Answer：　Doesn't　live　here。

The　Doctor　then。

Oh；　he　has　not　come。

This　monstrosity　irritated　Alfred：　〃Well；　then；〃　said　he；　〃whoever　it　is　that　rules　this　den　of　thieves；　when　those　two　are　out　of　it。〃

〃I　rule　in　Mr。　Baker's　absence；〃　said　the　head　keeper；　〃and　I'll　teach　you　manners；　you　young　blackguard。　Handcuff　him。〃

In　five　minutes　Alfred　was　handcuffed　and　flung　into　a　padded　room。

〃Stay　there　till　you　know　how　to　speak　to　your　betters；〃　said　the　head　keeper。

Alfred　walked　up　and　down　grinding　his　teeth　with　rage　for　five　long　hours。

Just　before　dinner　Brown　came　and　took　him　into　a　parlour；　where　Mrs。　Archbold　was　seated　writing。　Brown　retired。　The　lady　finished　what　she　was　doing；　and　kept　Alfred　standing　like　a　schoolboy　going　to　be　lectured。　At　last　she　said；　〃I　have　sent　for　you　to　give　you　a　piece　of　advice：　it　is　to　try　and　make　friends　with　the　attendants。〃

〃Me　make　friends　with　the　scoundrels！　I　thirst　for　their　lives。　Oh；　madam；　I　fear　I　shall　kill　somebody　here。〃

〃Foolish　boy；　they　are　too　strong　for　you。　Your　worst　enemies　could　wish　nothing　worse　for　you　than　that　you　should　provoke　them。〃　In　saying　these　words　she　was　so　much　more　kind　and　womanly　that　Alfred　conceived　hopes；　and　burst　out；　〃Oh；　madam；　you　are　human　then；　you　seem　to　pity　me；　pray　give　me　pen　and　paper；　and　let　me　write　to　my　friends　to　get　me　out　of　this　terrible　place；　do　not　refuse　me。〃

Mrs。　Archbold　resumed　her　distant　manner　without　apparent　effort：　she　said　nothing；　but　she　placed　writing　materials　before　him。　She　then　left　the　room；　and　locked　him　in。

He　wrote　a　few　hasty　ardent　words　to　Julia；　telling　her　how　he　had　been　entrapped；　but　not　a　word　about　his　sufferingshe　was　too　generous　to　give　her　needless　painand　a　line　to　Edward；　imploring　him　to　come　at　once　with　a　lawyer　and　an　honest　physician；　and　liberate　him。

Mrs。　Archbold　returned　soon　after；　and　he　asked　her　if　she　would　lend　him　sealing…wax：　〃I　dare　not　trust　to　an　envelope　in　such　a　place　as　this；〃　said　he。　She　lent　him　sealing…wax。

〃But　how　am　I　to　post　it？〃　said　he。

〃Easily：　there　is　a　box　in　the　house；　I　will　show　you。〃

She　took　him　and　showed　him　the　box：　he　put　his　letters　into　it；　and　in　the　ardour　of　his　gratitude　kissed　her　hand。　She　winced　a　little　and　said；　〃Mind；　this　is　not　by　my　advice；　I　would　never　tell　my　friends　I　had　been　in　a　madhouse；　oh；　never。　I　would　be　calm；　make　friends　with　the　servants　they　are　the　real　mastersand　never　let　a　creature　know　where　I　had　been。〃

〃Oh；　you　don't　know　my　Julia；〃　said　Alfred；　〃she　will　never　desert　me；　never　think　the　worse　of　me　because　I　have　been　entrapped　illegally　into　a　madhouse。〃

〃Illegally；　Mr。　Hardie！　you　deceive　yourself；　Mr。　Baker　told　me　the　order　was　signed　by　a　relation；　and　the　certificates　by　first…rate　lunacy　doctors。〃

〃What　on　earth　has　that　to　do　with　it；　madam；　when　I　am　as　sane　as　you　are？〃

〃It　has　everything　to　do　with　it。　Mr。　Baker　could　be　punished　for　confining　a　madman　in　this　house　without　an　order　and　two　certificates；　but　he　couldn't　for　confining　a　sane　person　under　an　order　and　two　certificates。〃

Alfred　could　not　believe　this；　but　she　convinced　him　that　it　was　so。

Then　he　began　to　fear　he　should　be　imprisoned　for　years：　he　turned　pale；　and　looked　at　her　so　piteously；　that　to　soothe　him　she　told　him　sane　people　were　never　kept　in　asylums　now；　they　only　used　to　be。

〃How　can　they？〃　said　she。　〃The　London　asylums　are　visited　four　times　a　year　by　the　commissioners；　and　the　country　asylums　six　times；　twice　by　the　commissioners；　and　four　times　by　the　justices。　_We_　shall　be　inspected　this　week　or　next；　and　then　you　can　speak　to　the　justices：　mind　and　be　calm；　say　it　is　a　mistake；　offer　testimony；　and　ask　either　to　be　discharged　at　once　or　to　have　a　commission　of　lunacy　sit　on　you。　Ten　to　one　your　friends　wi